Tag Archives: Pressure

Sometimes as a coach, you just want your players to play and the 1 v 1 Turn and Play Offensive Drill is great for that very purpose. The drill helps with both the individual offensive and defensive skills of players. Pushing players to rely on their own ability to create and make shots close to the basket while under heavy pressure. From the defensive perspective the 1 v 1 Turn and Play Offensive Drill forces defenders to work harder to challenge an easier shot from any already short-range position.

The strength of this drill is across a couple of areas. The first is the ability to apply pressure to both the offensive and defensive players. As mentioned earlier with the ball starting within the keyway the assumption for most people would be that the offense would have a sizeable advantage. This however creates pressure on the offensive player to actually fulfil that belief. Anything less than a score results in not being able to make the easy play.

This is the opposite for defenders who are focused on making the easy position’s advantage reduced by challenging every shot to force the mistake. If the offensive player scores, in the defenders mind it is that they did not take away the advantage. With this simplistic view, the drill becomes a good source of focus for defenders. There is no help defence, just a one on one situation.

Another key benefit from the 1 v 1 Turn and Play Offensive Drill is that it provides a high number of repetitions in a very short amount of time. Because the start of the drill is in or around the keyway, the time which is wasted between repetitions can be kept to a minimum. What compounds this benefit of a high repetition count is the game like scenario created.

The 1 v 1 Turn and Play Offensive Drill starts with two players under the basket. One player on offense (One) and the other on defence (Two).

1 v 1 Turn and Play Offensive Drill Diagram 1

One (1) will start with the ball. One (1) throws the ball out in front of them so it lands somewhere near the edge of the keyway. One (1) needs to put an amount of backspin on the ball so it remains within the three-point line.

As soon as the ball is released One (1) moves to secure the ball and pivot to face up to the basketball hoop.

Two (2) follows in the footsteps of One (1) ready to meet the pivot by the offensive player with considerable pressure.

1 v 1 Turn and Play Offensive Drill Diagram 2

From this point, once One (1) has caught the ball and pivoted towards the basket the 1 v 1 Turn and Play Offensive Drill becomes “live”.

Points of Emphasis

The defensive player must look to apply pressure to One (1). With the drill starting so close to the basket there is really no option to contain only by backing off.

The offensive players should look to develop a sequence of moves in helping to score no matter the situation. Shooting, a strong onside dribble move and then finally a counter move are all aspects that should be developed to help One (1) become a better all-round player.

Play until either the offensive player scores or the defender secures possession.

Boxing-out is important and should be emphasised at every opportunity

The 1 v 1 Turn and Play Offensive Drill is a useful drill for building upon technical skills often needing to be developed by players. These technical skills can sometimes be practiced without leading to a competitive drill situation. The 1 v 1 Turn and Play Offensive Drill provides this opportunity for players to gain a high number of repetitions coupled with a quality competitive situation. The drill can be implemented following a technical breakdown activity to provide excellent scaffolding and drill progression.

The 1 v 1.5 Wing Attack Drill looks to promote scoring efficiency and effectiveness from the wing position in the half court. Many drills that focus on individual offense in the half court often look to have players match-up in a one on one situation and have the goal of the drill being the offensive player beating the defender to finish with a lay-up or close range scoring opportunity. However, in reality this situation is very rarely the case. Many perimeter-scoring situations do not indeed finish with a scoring opportunity being created all the way to the basket, but rather create a mid-range scoring option. The 1 v 1.5 Wing Attack Drill provides a building block in developing a players understanding about how these mid-range scoring opportunities unfold and what their options are.

The 1 v 1.5 Wing Attack Drill starts with an offensive player (One) in the wing position.

1 v 1.5 Wing Attack Drill Diagram 1

There are then two defenders (Two and Three) that take part in the drill. The first defender (Three) starts in front the basket. Three (3) starts with a basketball. The 1 v 1.5 Wing Attack Drill begins with Three (3) passing the ball to One (1) and then closes out to the offensive player.

The Offensive player One (1), and the defender Three (3) are now in a live one on one situation.

The second defender (Two) starts behind the backboard and once Three (3) begins to close-out, then Two (2) fills the split line help position.

In the 1 v 1.5 Wing Attack Drill Two (2) once in the split line help position can be active, but never leave the keyway. This is what makes the 1 v 1.5 Wing Attack Drill such a unique and rewarding activity for improving a team’s offensive output from opportunities created from the perimeter. The progression of the drill will see the offensive player attempt to beat Three (3) in the closeout. If this happens then the offensive player must deal with help defence defending the keyway. This will promote the development by the individual on scoring from the mid-range.

Points of Emphasis

The types of skills which need to be developed and practiced in building competence by the offensive player in creating and dealing with possible scoring options include:

Jab Step, one dribble jump shot

Shot Fake, one dribble jump shot

Pass Fake, one dribble jump shot

Jab Step, two dribbles jump shot

Shot Fake, two dribbles jump shot

Pass Fake, two dribbles jump shot

Instead of a jump shot, other scoring moves such as practicing a jump stop and floater from the edge of the keyway especially when the drive is towards the base line will be viable. Another skill such as using a step-back may also be beneficial in helping as offensive player develop a good scoring opportunity.

Offensive players can also use secondary moves to beat the help defender such as a jump stop, shot fake and step through so they work their way to the basket by having to beat both defenders, not just make an open lay-up as depicted in less effective drills.

Variation

Once offensive players become capable of readily making scores with the 1 v 1.5 Wing Attack Drill, then the second defender (Two) can start to be allowed to be more active in defence. While still providing some opportunity for the offensive player, the split line defender (Two) can be allowed to extend their help defence to outside the keyway. Have Two (2) not engage until the offensive player has made at least one dribble, or the defender will simply cheat and end up providing no opportunity for a scoring outcome by the offense.

The 1 v 1.5 Wing Attack Drill looks to provide an opportunity for the offense to score in a game like scenario. Many offensive players will struggle with this concept, as they will often practice in the context of shooting from the perimeter or laying the ball up within the key. By using the 1 v 1.5 Wing Attack Drill players will become better at scoring using some very simple offensive skills, but in a pressure situation.

The Weak Hand Dribbling Drill looks to promote players confidence with their non-dominant hand. Basketball is a sport where players will need to develop their skills to overcome challenges posed by defences and playing in a sports environment that is three hundred and sixty degrees. To be successful at this a player must develop the ability for them to use both their left and right hands autonomously. Otherwise, they will run the risk of never being able to fully reach their individual potential. The Weak Hand Dribbling Drill looks to not only promote the use of the non-dominate hand, but also apply some pressure that can be a challenge in itself for players to deal with.

The Weak Hand Dribbling Drill starts out with players needing to be broken into groups of three. Players should be grouped depending on their non-dominant hand (left or right) and playing positions (Guards and Forwards). A coach will need to be mindful when placing athletes who maybe have well developed dribbling skills or speed as these players might need to be moved between groups to ensure a challenge for all involved.

The Weak Hand Dribbling Drill utilises the whole court so working in groups of three is useful in keeping more players moving then just standing around waiting for their turn as well. This drill works best over two courts when using in a team situation due to the amount of time spent on the court to rest ratio.

Weak Hand Dribbling Drill Diagram 1

The group of three players start lined up on the baseline. One (1) starts needing only one foot touching the baseline. When the Coach calls out go a stopwatch is started and One (1) starts to dribble at the first cone. One (1) will dribble around the first cone and head towards the opposite end of the floor performing a lay-up with their weak hand (in the diagram above this is the left hand variation shown).

Once One (1) has reached the first cone Two (2) will then commence their dribble around the cone and to the opposite end of the floor.

Once Two (2) reaches the first cone Three (3) will then start their dribble.

Once making the lay-up One (1) will continue on the opposite side of the floor repeating the movement.

A complete rotation of the floor (up and back) is repeated three times with the player aiming to make six lay-ups (three circuits) in under thirty-five seconds.

By having multiple players on the floor, the whole aim of the drill is to not only beat the clock, but also catch the person in front of you. Those players who are able to catch the person in front of them continue with the drill and try to run down the person ahead of them again or just try to finish in their best possible time. In the next repetition of the drill, these players who successful chased down one of their team mates will start in the first position.

The second dribbler should finish in under thirty eight seconds. With the third dribbler finishing in under forty-one seconds. These times are based on the one stopwatch being used and started when the first person commences the Weak Hand Dribbling Drill. If three stopwatches can be utilised then individual times can be recorded.

For those players running down others within the Weak Hand Dribbling Drill part of the reason for them moving to the front of the line is so they then start to compete against their personal best times instead of focusing on just competing against others.

Points of Emphasis

Players must maintain vision of the court at all times; watching the ball or looking at the floor only serves to limit the rate at which players will develop their weaker hand

Players must control the ball and keep the ball within their cylinder so they gain maximum effect from the activity; when dribbling the ball it should be kept at around hip height so players learn to control the ball and maintain contact

Players are allowed one dribble and two steps inside the three-point line when performing a lay-up; technique is still important as is making all uncontested lay-ups

Variations

A time only based variation of this drill can be found utilised by Rick Pitino in the Five-Star Basketball Drills book that sets the Weak Hand Dribbling Drill as a single person endeavour with only one person involved within the activity at one time. In this variation, the dribbler simply has to perform the same circuit in under thirty-five seconds by performing six lay-ups. This activity might be suitable initially for player development and especially for younger athletes when first developing this skill.

The Weak Hand Dribbling Drill is about developing the weaker hand of each individual basketball player. The focus on performing a lay-up is a very prudent activity as if teams know a player is weaker in one particular side of their dribbling they can sometimes overload the strong dribbling side so much that they then create an open driving lane when using the weak hand. In some cases, this can be so extensive that players have open lay-ups as a result.

The Passing and Scoring Under Pressure Drill provides an opportunity for players to practice high-paced passing with a game realistic situation to finish the drill. The Passing and Scoring Under Pressure Drill focuses on a dribbler being in the lead during a fast break situation. This type of set-up is very game realistic, especially for those teams that focus on using extended pressure. In these situations, the dribbler is often the stealer or deflector of the ball who reacts quickest because they are leading the offense. Passing and Scoring Under Pressure Drill looks to provide a scenario where all the help to the dribbler is behind the line of the ball and so making reads on the run as to what opportunities are available is highlighted from a different perspective.

The set-up for the Passing and Scoring Under Pressure Drill starts with three lines of players along the baseline.

Passing and Scoring Under Pressure Drill Diagram 1

The middle line starts with a basketball. The first player in the middle lane moves onto the court in front of the basket. One (1) then throws the ball of the backboard, rebounding and outleting to one of the wing players (Two or Three).

When Two (2) and Three (3) see One (1) throw the ball up to the backboard, they break onto the court and move into outlet positions of at least the foul line extended on each side of the court. A common problem in the early stages of the Passing and Scoring Under Pressure Drill is outlet players pulling up early and not reaching these positions.

The three players then pass the ball from one side of the court to the other as quickly as possible. No dribbling, only catching and passing on the run.

The ball is passed back and forth up to halfway. Then the next player in a sideline lane that receives the pass once over halfway becomes the dribbler attacking the basket in the front court.

In the diagram above Three (3) catches the ball and establishes a driving lane to the basket.

The player in the opposite sideline lane (Two) becomes the defender and sprints to establish a position blocking the dribblers lane to the basket.

The middle lane runner looks to fill a receiver spot for a good shooting position close the basket if needed.

Points of Emphasis for the Passing and Scoring Under Pressure Drill

The Passing and Scoring Under Pressure Drill really has two distinctive phases; in the back court the players are looking to hit positions (such as outlet) and then advance the ball as quickly as possible. In the front court (second phase) the players are looking to execute to either make the best possible scoring opportunity a reality or stop the shot

Players in the back court should be looking to advance the ball as quickly as possible; use time as well as passes to ensure this happens with a realistic sense of urgency

In the front court the primary scoring option is for the dribbler to make the lay-up

The secondary scoring option is for the trailing offensive player to perform a jump shot from the strong side elbow or lay-up over the front of the basket

Variation

To make the Passing and Scoring Under Pressure Drill a little more challenging any player who receives the pass over halfway becomes the dribbler (instead of the first player in a sideline lane). In this scenario, the player who makes the pass to the player over halfway becomes the defender.

The really great aspect of this variation is that it allows the drill to be changed constantly so to always provide a challenge to players.

The Passing and Scoring Under Pressure Drill looks to provide a number of different benefits for teams looking to improve their fast break or offensive transition scoring conversion. A simple drill but very effective in building confidence in players about when to push a scoring opportunity, and when to look for other possibilities. The greatest advantage a team and coach can obtain from using the Passing and Scoring Under Pressure Drill is that they become better at executing on the end of the floor that counts the most.

When implementing a Full Court Press, after the initial stages of how the trapping action happens attention should then shift to the options for a Secondary Trap. The Secondary Trap is the name given to those options for another trap to form after the first has broken down or been released. A team that discusses the secondary trap and works to perfect this action is a team that is twice as hard to beat. A secondary trap can be executed in the full court, half court or quarter court depending on a team’s defensive strategy.

Thinking about a secondary trap is not necessarily discussing what happens when a press breaks down. Just because the ball is moved out of the initial trapping situation does not mean that the defence has failed. In some instances, the secondary trap might be the intended phase within a trapping defence that a team wants so they can pressure the ball more aggressively when possession is in certain players hands. For example, when facing a team that has a capable Point Guard, but very weak supporting ball handlers. The initial trapping situation might be used to move the ball out of the Point Guards hands and then apply extreme pressure the next receiver.

In the full court, the use of the secondary trap is all about using the court effectively. Making every inch of the floor valuable and a challenge for opposition teams to win. If a defensive team is not going to use a secondary trap, then maybe a half-court trap is a better option as this will not stretch the defence as much and also limit the focus to one trapping phase (which is often the focus of half court traps) can be more effective.

When supplementary trapping situations are focused upon within a team’s full court defence there can be opportunities explored even as the ball is advanced deep down the court to the basket. As mentioned previously there is no reason that up to three trapping areas cannot be explored and drilled by a team. These areas are marked in the Diagram below as Areas 1, 2 and 3.

Trapping Areas Diagram 1: A Secondary Trap can happen in the same area as the initial trap. So teams must drill different rotations to ensure they can deal with all strategies that different offense may present

Alternatively, a different approach can be taken and in different areas of the court, different trapping strategies are applied so an opposition’s offense is unable to become comfortable with the tactics they are facing. For example in Area 1, a team may not want to trap, but simply slow the progress of the ball and stall an effective opposition’s transition offense. In Area 2 a team might decide Hedge and Recover so to the offense the trap looks like it is about to happen and so the ball is continued to be rotated away from the key ball handlers and into the weaker decision makers hands within the group before trapping aggressively in Area 3.

If facing a team with a very effective Press Breaker one option is to reduce the press formation to the ¾ court. Then not trap in Areas 1 or 2. This will space the offense out and condense the defence . Then providing all defenders are active a secondary trap can be triggered in Area 3. If executed well, many off the offensive players can be still in the back court when the trap happens and not able to initially take part as a pressure release target for the ball handler.

All of the examples above make the secondary trap a very useful strategy in not only providing depth to a team’s defence, but also being flexible in tactics to compete an ultimately win a game. A good secondary trap is a trap that exposes a team, a does just not focus on the key ball handler of the opposition. When that happens a defence is starting ask questions of players who do not normally make decision at pace, on the dribble or in traffic and that can only be a good thing for the defence.